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Royal Air Force identity card of Flying Officer Edgar John Wilcox, circa 1940

Archives, Circa 1940 {cg}, In Storage, X007-1390/009

Charred identity card of Flying Officer John Wilcox of no. 72 Squadron, who was shot down during the Battle of Britain on 31 August 1940.

CAUTION: Burnt identity card assumed to have been recovered from Fg Off Wilcox's body, this could distress some readers., CAUTION: Burnt identity card assumed to have been recovered from Fg Off Wilcox's body, this could distress some readers.

Bust-length portrait of Flying Officer Edgar John Wilcox, circa 1940

Archives, Circa 1940 {cg}, In Storage, X007-1390/008

Edgar Wilcox was born in 1917 and educated at Winton House School and Croydon High School. He joined the RAF in 1937 and after completing his flying training was posted No. 72 Squadron in July 1938.

Flg Off Wilcox wears service dress and wears pilot's wings above his left breast pocket., Flg Off Wilcox wears service dress and wears pilot's wings above his left breast pocket.

Pilot's flying log book of Squadron Leader Harold Arthur Cooper Bird-Wilson, 28 September 1937-18 June 1943

Archives, 28 SEP 1937-18 JUN 1943, In Storage, X003-7892/001/001

Bird-Wilson joined the RAF in 1937, after completing his flying training he was posted to No.17 Squadron. In September 1938, Brid Wilson was involved in a crash and suffered severe facial injuries, undergoing pioneering plastic surgery.

Two pilots flying log books bound together in black leather.  See documentation tab for digital copy, Two pilots flying log books bound together in black leather.  See documentation tab for digital copy

Westland Lysander Mk. III

Aircraft & Exhibits, AUG 1940-1971, In Storage, 74/A/21

Westland Lysanders are best known for transporting secret agents to and from occupied France during the Second World War. This Lysander first flew with No. 255 Squadron in 1940, but later flew with No. 161 (Special Duties) Squadron from October 1944.

Port side view of Westland Lysander on a white background., © RAF Museum

Spitfire Mark I Windscreen

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1940, In Storage, 80/A/1142

This armoured windscreen from a Spitfire Mk I was damaged by machine gun fire on 9 September 1940 during the Battle of Britain. The pilot was Sub Lieutenant Arthur Blake RN from No. 19 Squadron based at Fowlmere.

Shattered glass in an arch-shaped thick metal frame, © RAF Museum

No. 32 Squadron Scoreboard

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1940, In Storage, 66/C/90

Traditionally squadrons recorded their performance against enemy aircraft, showing victories, probables and damaged. This scoreboard is from No. 32 Squadron, based at Biggin Hill, a key target for the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.

Wingtip with handwritten title, names and scores; RAF roundel design in the centre overlaid with a bow, pearls and horn, © RAF Museum

Diary of Pilot Officer John Derek Bisdee, 8 May 1940-24 December 1940

Archives, 08 MAY 1940-24 DEC 1940, In Storage, X008-7751/002

John Bisdee was a fighter pilot with No. 609 Squadron in 1940. His diary records his involvement in the air fighting over Dunkirk in May and June 1940 and later in the Battle of Britain.

Black notebook with manuscript entries.

To Public Shelters Sign

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1940-1945, In Storage, X005-5742

In 1938, when war seemed inevitable, local authorities were required to provide public shelters in case of enemy bombing. Signs such as this, a rare survivor, guided the public to their nearest shelter.

Rectangular wooden sign with a pointed end on the left, reading 'TO PUBLIC SHELTERS', © RAF Museum

Hydraulic Pump, Bristol Blenheim Mark IV

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1940, In Storage, 1997/0031/C

Recovered from its crash site near Kaas, this pump belonged to a Bristol Blenheim Mark IV R3802 that was shot down during RAF No. 82 Squadron’s raid of the Aalborg Airfield, Denmark, 13 August 1940.

Hydraulic Pump, Bristol Blenheim Mark IV | 1997/0031/C

Fuze Extractor Freddy Mark 1

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1940-1945, In Storage, 1990/0046/T

The Freddy Mk 1 was invented by Squadron Leader Eric Moxey at the start of the Second World War. It used compressed air to remove the fuze from unexploded enemy bombs, enabling RAF personnel to stay at a safe distance while it was disarmed.

Symmetrical structure composed of metal rods, strips and bolts, and a metal syringe, © RAF Museum